The Executive Director of WASCAL, Dr. Moumini Savadogo has charged graduands of WASCAL’s Masters Programme at the Universite Abdou Moumouni de Niamey to develop a resilient spirit of entrepreneurship, think outside the box and never wait for an employer before moving into action.

He also asked them not to be dissuaded into deserting their certificates on their shelves to take on a different profession.

He made this remark in a speech read on his behalf at the graduation ceremony of the second batch of Masters students in Climate Change and Energy from theUniversité Abdou Moumouni De Niamey, Niger

Dr Savadogo further challenged them to live up to expectation and reciprocate the efforts of German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).

“ The whole of West Africa is looking up to you to provide them with empirical solutions that can help mitigate or adapt to the rising negative effects of climate change that has unbridled this sub-Region. One of the best ways we can reciprocate the efforts of BMBF is to maximize the opportunities at your disposal to make positive impact in the fight against climate change in West Africa.” He said.

The Director of Climate Change and Energy programme, Dr. Rabani Adamou also congratulated the graduands and admonished them to go out there and surmount the challenges with head high and confidence, in order to make WASCAL proud.

The graduands presented findings and results of their various projects works to the entire invited guests at the event, before they were presented with their certificates. In all ten(10) students from various countries within West Africa graduated.The event was graced by the Nigerien Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, the ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Niger, The vice chancellor of the University of Abdou Moumini and other university dignitaries.

West Africa’s high vulnerability to climate change is exacerbated by endemic poverty, economic and institutional weakness, and limited access to infrastructure, technology and energy. The main objective of The MRP Climate Change And Energy programme is, therefore to train a new generation of interdisciplinary professionals capable of proposing adapted solutions to face the climate change and energy crisis.

The curriculum focuses on topics such as climate change and global warming, knowledge of the impacts of climate change, vulnerability of natural systems and the built environment, and methods for adaptation as well as energy production, delivery, and consumption for both, traditional systems and sustainable energy alternatives with special emphasis on energy efficiency, energy management and local available renewable energy.

WASCAL is dedicated to becoming one of Africa’s leading institutions in the provision of climate services, including capacity building, in and for West Africa.

WASCAL has expressed its deepest gratitude to the Government and people of Burkina Faso for the tremendous support it has given the institution over the past years. WASCAL also congratulated the country for its up-to-date payment of their country contribution.

This was contained in the speech of the Board Chair of WASCAL, Mr. Peter Dery when they paid a courtesy call on His Excellency S.E.M Pingrenoma Zagré, the Burkina Faso Ambassador to Ghana.

Dr. Moumini Savadogo, the Executive Director of WASCAL also thanked the people of Burkina Faso and called on the ambassador to leverage on his mandate to project the great bilateral relationship between their country and WASCAL, and also the success stories of WASCAL amongst his counterparts. He also used the opportunity to brief the ambassador on the proposed commencement of the construction of the Competence Centre building scheduled for this year.

His Excellency Zagré was pleased to welcome the delegation and pledged his support for the growth of WASCAL in the West African Region.

The WASCAL Competence Centre which houses all the Scientists is based in Burkina Faso. The Government of Burkina Faso has also offered a vast land to WASCAL for the commencement of a Climate Change Centre of Excellence. The multi-purpose edifice, when completed will serve as the hub and point of reference for climate change research Africa. Plans are also far advanced for WASCAL to begin its new Masters Programme in Informatics for Climate Change at the University of Ouaga 1-Prof. Joseph Ki-Zerbo

Lomé, le 08 février 2018. Auditorium de l`UL. L’Université de Lomé décerne son 1er diplôme «Docteur Honoris Causa» à l’Allemand Wilfried Kraus, directeur adjoint du Département “Développement Durable, Climat et Energie”, au ministère Fédéral allemand de l’Education et de la Recherche. La cérémonie officielle de remise du diplôme s’est déroulée à l’auditorium de l’UL en présence de nombreuses personnalités parmi lesquelles l’ambassadeur de lé République Fédérale d’Allemagne au Togo, le président de l’UL et de plusieurs enseignants-chercheurs des universités publiques du Togo. Cette distinction est une marque de reconnaissance de l`UL à l’un des acteurs-clé de la coopération germano-togolaise à travers le programme WASCAL (West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use), section Afrique de l’Ouest.